#501 ·
Jerry Campbell2 said:I have a quick question for the group. I’ve just accepted a teaching position at a different school in another city. I am scheduled to sign my contract at the end of August, though my actual start date won't be until the beginning of the new school year. My dilemma is this: when exactly am I obligated to inform my current principal that I am resigning to move to this new district?
To be perfectly honest, I am feeling quite anxious about the timing. I certainly don't want to jeopardize my current position by giving notice too early and risking the principal terminating my employment over the summer break. However, I also recognize the importance of professional courtesy; I don't want to wait so long that the administration is left scrambling to find a replacement. I actually have a wonderful candidate in mind whom I could recommend to take my place, but I want to handle this with total integrity.
If you want to play it strictly by the book, your best bet is to dig through your current employment contract under the section labeled "Termination of Employment." You really need to focus on the notice period clause; typically, it's around two weeks, though depending on how your specific school district handles things, it might be a bit longer. That's the amount of time you're legally obligated to stay on the clock before you can officially walk away.
As for whether you should tell them sooner—like, even right now—that's entirely up to your own judgment regarding your relationship with the principal. It's kind of like deciding whether to tell your boss you're moving to a competitor before you've even packed your boxes; it all depends on how much you trust them.
